Saturday, October 17, 2009

Israel loses UN vote on Gaza 'war crimes'


Report calling for inquiry into invasion approved despite US opposition

By Donald Macintyre in Jerusalem

"The Goldstone report calling for a war crimes investigation into Israel's military offensive in Gaza last winter easily cleared its first UN hurdle yesterday despite intense lobbying by Israel and the US.

The 25-6 vote at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva brings one step closer – at least in theory – the possibility that Israel could face International Criminal Court proceedings if it does not launch its own independent investigation into its conduct of the war. The decision, which was described as "unjust" and "one-sided" by Israel yesterday, refers the report of the council's fact-finding mission headed by the former South African Supreme Court judge Richard Goldstone to the UN General Assembly for further consideration........"

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